City Manager

CITY MANAGER STEVE LEWIS

Steve Lewis brings 35 years of experience in local government to the City of Norman. He has served as City Manager since 2007, and prior to coming to Norman he was the City Administrator for the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Other public service includes approximately ten years as City Manager of the City of Joplin, Missouri. His educational background includes a B.S. from Texas A & M University and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in City Management from the University of North Texas.

Professinally Steve is a member of the International City/County Management Association and the City Management Association of Oklahoma. He has completed the Senior Executive Institute program at the Cooper School of Public Service at the University of Virginia. Steve also serves on the Board of Directors of the Norman Chamber of Commerce and the Norman Economic Development Coalition. He is also an ex-officio member of the Norman Regional Hospital Board.

Form of Government

The City of Norman has a council-manager form of government which consists of an elected city council that is responsible for policymaking, and a professional city manager, appointed by the council, who is responsible for administration. The council-manager form, the most popular form of goverment, is based on the model of a business with a board of directors that appoints a chief executive officer.

In the City of Norman, the City Manager:

Provides professional leadership for the City

Executes policies and procedures

Develops and recommends alternative solutions to community concerns for consideration by the Mayor and City Council

Develops new programs and measures to meet emerging and future needs of the City

Manages the City's operating and capital improvement budgets

Promotes confidence in city goverment through citizen involvement and excellent customer service